In order to produce a convincing body of work that contributes effectively to a wider discourse within Sound Arts, I need to reflect and ask myself – where am I coming from? Who am I? What do I represent? Why does what I have to say matter?

My background coming into the world of Sound Arts is that of a multi-instrumentalist who plays in 6 bands and gigs across London regularly. I’m very much originally a musician who has dipped their toes into this world to develop my practice.

I like to inject humour into my work wherever possible (this is a practice I’ve tried to develop over the past year). I suppose this may come from some of the trauma I experienced when I was younger – nothing crazy, but a long and messy divorce of my parents, a bit of neglect on their part, getting bullied at school, etc. I feel as though a lot of the time I enjoy to make art for people to laugh along with and not take too seriously, whilst still getting a message across that art with humour is just as valid and real as art that covers more serious issues.

I also believe I struggle with undiagnosed ADHD – I have been in contact with the disability services at UAL recently to access support, and I have been on a waiting list on the NHS to be diagnosed for around a year. My GP said I most likely have it, but it’s incredibly difficult to get diagnosed through the system once you turn 18 years old – he actually apologised to me that he couldn’t really do anything to help.

Something that interests me is the role that neurodiversity (specifically ADHD) plays in arts education, and whether universities are doing enough to assist the learning processes of students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, Asperger’s, ADHD etc.

I recently found an interesting written by Luca M. Damiani, a lecturer at LCC, that discusses the relationship between art and neurodiversity:

https://sparkjournal.arts.ac.uk/index.php/spark/article/view/88/146

He specifically talks about his experiences with Asperger’s syndrome and is interested in “investigating how art and design expand perceptions of and give voice to neurological diversity”. I might like to cover something like this but from the perspective of a student with undiagnosed ADHD. I think it’s important to give voice to people with neurodiverse conditions and this is probably where I want to situate myself for this project.